Buckle



(No Mbdel.

G. LISMITH.

BUCKLE.

Patented Oct. 22,1889.

N" PETERS. Fhalo-Lilhngnplwr. Walhingtoa. O. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE L, SMITH, 0E NEWARK, NEWJERSEY.

BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 418,375, dated October 22, 1889. I

Application filed May 17, 1889- To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. SMrrH, a citizen of the'United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to buckles, and is more especially designed for use on the hip-straps of harness, the purpose being to so construct the buckle as to preclude the catching of the hairs of ahorses tail therein-a difficulty attending buckles of ordinary construction. \Vhen used in the position named, the buckle occupies a vertical or practically-vertical position, and in the following description such position is assumed for convenience of reference and explanation.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improved buckle in use; Fig. 2, a perspective view of the buckle 5 Fig. 3, a vertical sectional view of the same.

The buckle consists of side bars a a, advisably arched or curved slightly at their upper and lower ends in the direction of their length, upper and lower cross-bars b c, and intermediate cross-bar (1, having a rigid tongue 6, and finally a loop f. The side bars a a, as before stated, are curved or arched, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that the cross-bar c and the upper arm of the loop f shall be in approximately the same plane. The cross-bar b is flush wit-h the front faces of the side bars a, while the bar (1 is flush with the rear faces of said bars a, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. As also shown in these figures, it will be noticed that the rigid tongue 6, secured to the crossbar'd, will advisably project slightly downwardly and outwardly.

The loop f may be made open, as indicated Serial No. 311,123. (No model.)

by dotted lines in Fig; 2, or closed, as may be preferred.

The outer faces of the bars a b will be beveled or rounded, so that the buckle when in position will present a surface over which the hair of the horses tail will pass without danger of catching.

The buckle when made as represented in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, is attached by its lower crossbar 0 to a strap A, and the strap B, to be connected with the buckle, passes through the loop f beneath or behind the cross-bar b, and then outside or in front of the cross-bar d, the rigid tongue e of course engaging one of the series of holes 9 in the strap 13.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there are no projecting surfaces on the outer face of the buckle which can by any possibility catch the hair from the horses tail, and to this extent I believe that my buckle possesses advantages over those heretofore constructed.

I am aware that buckles having curved side bars are not new per se, and to such buckles I make no broad claim. 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is In a buckle, the combination, with the curved or arched side bars a a, of the crossbar 0 at the lower end of the buckle, a cross bar I; at the upper end,'an intermediate crossbar d, provided with a forwardly-projecting tongue e, and a loop f, projecting backwardly from the upper end of the buckle, all substantially as shown.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE L. SMITH. Witnesses:

WALTER T. JOHNSON, A. W. DUNN. 

